These air fryer apple cider donuts are packed with concentrated apple flavor and warm fall spices. The no-yeast dough simply stirs together and chills overnight, so you can cut and air fry fresh donuts in the morning without any messy frying oil.
Avocado oil or other neutral oil, for spraying~as neededest.
Unsalted butter, melted, for brushing6 tbsp
Granulated sugar, for cinnamon sugar coating2/3 cups
Ground cinnamon, for cinnamon sugar coating1 tbsp
Steps
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1
Simmer the apple cider over medium-high heat until reduced to about 2/3 cup, then set aside to cool (you can chill it over ice or in the fridge to speed this up).
2
In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg, egg white, cooled cider reduction, granulated sugar, brown sugar, melted butter, and vanilla until smooth.
3
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, and salt until combined.
4
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and fold gently with a spatula just until no flour streaks remain — do not overmix, or the donuts will turn dense instead of cakey.
5
Scrape the dough together, cover, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours (up to 12 hours) so it firms up enough to shape and cut.
6
Turn the chilled dough out onto a floured surface and pat it down to about 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick.
7
Using a floured 3-inch cutter, cut out donut shapes, then cut a hole in the center with a 1-inch cutter. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet; re-roll scraps to use all the dough — you should get about 9 donuts plus extra donut holes.
8
Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes (375°F for a basket-style fryer, 410°F for a combo convection oven). If unsure, test-bake one donut first and adjust temperature by 15–25°F as needed.
9
Line the air fryer basket with parchment, spray the cold donuts lightly with neutral oil, place them upside down, then spray the other side. Air fry for 6 minutes, flip, and cook another 2–3 minutes until golden and the internal temperature reaches 170°F. Donut holes air fry for about 6 minutes total, tossed and sprayed with oil partway through.
10
While the donuts air fry, melt the butter and mix the granulated sugar with cinnamon to make the cinnamon sugar coating.
11
Once the donuts have cooled slightly, brush both sides with melted butter and coat in the cinnamon sugar (or simply dunk the whole donut in butter, then roll in cinnamon sugar) before serving.
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